MONTGOMERY – From Friday, Feb. 21, to Sunday, Feb. 23, Alabama will observe its 14th annual Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday. The Alabama Retail Association encourages Alabamians to restock emergency supplies in homes, workplaces and vehicles during this three-day tax holiday. Certain emergency preparedness items will be exempt from the state’s 4-percent state sales tax, and in some cities and counties, local taxes are waived on those items as well. The tax holiday means shoppers can save as much as 10% on these items in some areas of the state.
As of Jan. 24, 292 local governments say they will waive local taxes on the covered items, while 44 local entities said local sales tax will apply.
To see if your community is participating, click on the 2025 Participating Cities and Counties link.
- Flashlights, lanterns
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
- Batteries
- First-aid kits
- Cell phone charger
- Two-way radios
- Manual can openers
- Tarps and plastic sheeting
- Duct tape
- Fire extinguishers
- Tie-down kits, bungee cords or rope
Other tax-free items include: Coolers, ice packs, plywood, window film and smoke/fire/carbon monoxide detectors. Portable generators and power cords costing $1,000 or less are also tax free.
Sales Tax Holiday Printable Poster for Retailers
Severe weather preparedness sales tax holiday page at alabamaretail.org
Local hardware stores are prepared to serve their communities in the event of a natural disaster. “Customers come in and buy all the flashlights, batteries, kerosene, lamp oil and whatever they need” after a storm hits, said Frank Davies, owner of Little Hardware in Mountain Brook. In his experience, though, Davies said few know about or take advantage of Alabama’s annual severe weather sales tax holiday. “They don’t prepare. They wait until it happens and then scramble” to deal with the aftermath, he added. Many of the items that ready.gov recommends for a basic disaster supply kit are tax-free in Alabama Feb. 21-23.
“Severe weather can occur at any time, in any season,” said Alabama Retail President Rick Brown. “The February tax holiday helps Alabama consumers remember to stock and prepare emergency kits to be ready when storms strike.”
>> Other local hardware store sources for emergency supplies include: Planters Hardware in Ashland, Andrews ACE Hardware in Chatom; Greenville Hardware, Greenville: Mary Carter Store, Cullman; Rocky Ridge Hardware, Vestavia Hills; Consolidated Ace Hardware, Dothan and Ozark; and Holley True Value, Selma.
Alabama is among at least three states with a severe weather preparedness sales tax holiday in 2025: the Texas holiday is April 26-28 and Virginia’s annual tax holiday will be Aug. 1-3 (first full weekend of August). Florida’s legislature decides each year when and if to have a disaster preparedness sales tax holiday. In 2024, Florida had two such tax holiday periods – June 1-14 and Aug. 24-Sept. 6.
>> Learn more at alabamaretail.org/salestaxholidays
The Alabama Retail Association represents retailers, the largest private employer in the state of Alabama, before the Alabama Legislature and the U.S. Congress. Through sales of food, clothing, furniture, medicine and more, our 4,500 independent merchant and national company members touch almost every aspect of daily living. Since 1943, we’ve worked to promote what’s best for the retail industry in Alabama. Whether voicing the retail view when public policy is made, educating members about issues that impact them, negotiating rates for benefits and services or communicating the retail story, the Alabama Retail Association and its members are better together.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brittany Peters | 334.551.0643
Originally posted at noon Feb. 5, 2025